If you’ve driven on Highway 1 or Highway 78 through Brighton since Friday, you may have noticed something big on the corner that wasn’t there before. That something is the rock that will become Washington County’s very own Freedom Rock. The rock, which is roughly the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, was donated by a farmer near Coppock, and was moved to its new home Friday. Brighton City Clerk Chris Davies says the city is purchasing the old BJ’s Stop Off on the corner of Highways 1 and 78, so the rock will be easily seen by anyone passing through the city.

The Freedom Rock will be painted some time in 2018, and Davies believes it will be a good way to bring people to Brighton, “There’s people that drive around the State of Iowa, just looking at these things. It just kind of brings a little bit more attention to our community. And with Lake Darling and stuff here, we’ll do anything we can to get more people to visit our community.” Ray “Bubba” Sorenson of Greenfield is the artist behind the Freedom Rocks, and his goal is to have one in all 99 Iowa counties. Each rock is unique to the county it’s in, and the paintings honor armed forces veterans.